I used to despair of getting the children to hold a pen or pencil correctly, at 8 years "I've always done it like this." I don't know what the infant school plan was, but it didn't include the fine grip between opposable thumb and forefinger, resting on the middle finger. Fruitlessly I told them that when they had to do three hour exams, their hands would seize up from trying to write fast enough. Bah!

We were supposed to mark them on writing, but given no time to teach. And we needed to unteach before that. Practice is only valuable if they have been taught to write properly, with the pencil moving in the right direction round the letters so it is ready for the next one. Reasonable facsimiles with d started at the top, and a going round clockwise like an alpha can sneak under the radar if done during registration.

One nephew started in the infants with print - the other arrived after they had taken on board joining from the start to improve spelling skills. His writing was so much better. And, as an adult, he actually writes letters.

Penny